O P 301602Z JAN 09
FM AMCONSUL BELFAST
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1448
INFO AMCONSUL BELFAST 
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
AMEMBASSY DUBLIN PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BELFAST 000006 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE, NSC FOR BRADLEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  1/30/2019 
TAGS: PTER PREL EI UK PGOV
SUBJECT: PROPOSED PAYMENTS TO VICTIMS OF NORTHERN IRELAND'S TROUBLES 
IGNITE CONTROVERSY 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Susan Elliott, Consul General, Belfast, State 
Department. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  The public release on January 28 of The 
Consultative Group on the Past's report sparked controversy 
among Northern Ireland's politicians and victims groups.  The 
Group, appointed by the British government in 2007, had a 
mandate to explore ways to deal with Northern Ireland's legacy 
of conflict.  The Group made 31 recommendations including the 
creation of a Legacy Commission to investigate all outstanding 
murder cases and study future reconciliation efforts.  One 
recommendation, a payment of 12,000 British pounds to relatives 
of all victims of the Troubles, including members of 
paramilitary organizations, has sparked intense controversy. 
Unionist politicians, in particular, have been vocal in opposing 
the payment to relatives of the IRA members.  Eames and Bradley 
defended their compensation scheme, saying there should be no 
hierarchy of victims. UK Prime Minister Brown was cautious in 
his response, but said he understands the concerns of those 
opposed to such payments.  With the total cost of the 
recommendations expected to be around 300 million British pounds 
(roughly 450 million US dollars), it is likely the British and 
Irish governments will carefully study all aspects of the report 
before making decisions on how to implement its findings.  While 
the final report does not mention USG financial support, Eames 
and Bradley have indicated privately that they would like the 
USG to share in the cost of financing their proposals. End 
Summary. 
 
Consultative Group Makes Recommendations 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) The Consultative Group on the Past, headed by Lord 
Eames, former Anglican Archbishop of Armagh, and Denis Bradley, 
formerly a Catholic priest and Vice Chairman of Northern 
Ireland's Policing Board, released its report publicly on 
January 28.  The British government set up the Consultative 
Group in June 2007 to make recommendations on all issues 
relating to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.  Before releasing 
the report publicly, Eames and Bradley met with Prime Minister 
Brown on January 22 to brief him on the report's conclusions. 
While collecting information for the report, Eames and Bradley 
met on several occasions with former Special Envoy Dobriansky 
and Consul General. 
 
Legacy Commission Key Proposal 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (U) Key recommendations include the creation of a Legacy 
Commission, chaired by an international commissioner appointed 
by the British and Irish governments, which would have a 
five-year mandate to complete investigations of historic murder 
cases as well as assist with reconciliation efforts.  Eames and 
Bradley also call for the creation of the Reconciliation Forum 
to help the new Legacy Commission and the already existing 
Commission for Victims and Survivors for Northern Ireland 
(CVSNI) address issues linked to the Troubles. 
 
Compensation Recommendation Creates Controversy 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶4.  (U) The recommendation that compensation of 12,000 British 
pounds be paid to relatives of those who died during the 
conflict has generated considerable negative reaction because 
the payments would go to relatives of members of paramilitary 
groups, including the IRA who died during the conflict.  Several 
Unionist politicians were quick to denounce the recommendation 
saying innocent victims could not be equated with terrorists. 
DUP First Minister Peter Robinson has harshly criticized the 
proposal and said publicly that he would never support its 
implementation.  A few victims groups protested noisily at the 
January 28 press conference where Eames and Bradley presented 
their findings.  Eames and Bradley have defended their 
compensation scheme, saying there should be no hierarchy of 
victims.  They point out a similar scheme had taken place in the 
Republic of Ireland.  (Note:  Press reports indicate this was 
the "Remembrance Fund" established in 2003 by former Irish Prime 
Minister Ahern to help the families of those in Ireland who had 
been killed or injured during the Troubles.  This fund allowed 
for payments to families of paramilitary group members, 
including the IRA.  End Note.) 
 
Nationalist Reaction 
-------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, who attended the January 28 
press conference, told the media he needed to study the full 
report, but noted his view that the Legacy Commission should not 
be a UK-appointed body.  Adams would prefer that the United 
Nations or other international entity establish this Commission. 
 SDLP Leader Mark Durkan was less critical and called for 
careful reflection of the Consultative Group's recommendations. 
 
Prime Minister Brown Guarded In Response to Report 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶6.  (U) DUP MP Nigel Dodds strongly criticized the compensation 
scheme during a session of the UK Parliament and asked a 
response from the Prime Minister.  Gordon Brown said he 
understood why one of the recommendations has evoked controversy 
in Northern Ireland (i.e. the compensation scheme), but noted 
that some of the recommendations such as settling outstanding 
cases and moving forward with reconciliation should be 
acceptable to all communities. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7.  (C) The British and Irish governments will likely take 
several months to review the Eames-Bradley report before making 
public what they will be able to support financially.  With the 
total cost of the recommendations expected to be around 300 
million British pounds (approximately 450 million USD), the 
British and Irish governments will probably focus on the 
Report's less controversial aspects, such as the creation of a 
Legacy Commission. Over the last 18 months Eames and Bradley met 
several times with the Consul General and former Special Envoy 
Dobriansky.  During those meetings they mentioned the high cost 
of implementing their proposed recommendations.  While the final 
report does not mention USG financial support, Eames and Bradley 
have indicated privately that they would like the USG to share 
in the cost of financing their proposals. 
 
 
ELLIOTT